“Your mom’s trying to coax her to change back, but she’s not having much luck.”

“Has Amber tried?” Amber was the pack healer and, as such, the person who had healed Nick. The young female was also a good friend to Roni.

“She’s tried, but she hasn’t been successful. I spoke to Amber briefly. Her theory is that Roni’s reacting badly to you leaving and has shifted to escape facing the true brunt of the pain.”

And didn’t that make him feel like shit. “I can’t go back, Derren.”

“I know. I told Amber that when she suggested you could at least go back for a little while.”

“Good.” Nick folded his arms across his chest. “Totally off the subject…We’re being very closely watched.” A group of four male wolf shifters in the corner booth had been casting him curious glances since he arrived. Furthermore, a trio of male wolf shifters at the rear of the diner was doing the same.

“The locals are going to want to know what you’re doing in their territory. With or without the status of Pack Alpha, you’re still a born alpha, and it’s obvious in the way you conduct yourself. Hell, you’re like a beacon to shifters with all the power practically humming around you.” Derren paused as the waitress appeared with their orders. Once she was gone, he leaned forward. “Have you noticed there’s a specific divide in the wolf shifters in here?”

Nick nodded. “Either there are divides within the pack, or we’re dealing with two local wolf packs.”

“Two wolf packs in one town…I don’t see how that could work.”

“It’s not. Hence the tension.”

Derren considered that for a second and then shrugged, switching his attention to his pile of pancakes. “Well, I know the main pack here is the Sequoia Pack, so I know who at least one of the Alphas in this town is: Petrus Hadley.”

It took Nick a moment to connect the name with a face. “Ah, the Nazi.”

“Why was he nicknamed the Nazi?”

“Because he’s a Nazi.”

“It’s the ‘drug lord’ rumor surrounding him that bugs me.”

Yeah, admittedly, it wasn’t comforting.

“I’m surprised he hasn’t approached your mate and insisted she join his pack or leave.” Derren took a sip of his coffee. “You know, her wolf’s not easy to sense. If I hadn’t already known she was a half-shifter, I doubt I would have picked up on it.” That was Derren—he missed nothing. “Maybe that’s why she’s been left alone.”

“Her father’s human,” Nick told him after swallowing a piece of toast. “I found that out when I was searching for info on her to try to guess where she might be hiding.”

“You know what that means, don’t you?”

“That the urge to mate won’t be as painful for her.” Half-shifters had heightened senses and accelerated strength and speed just as full shifters did, but they differed in that their animal and primal instincts were diluted. “That’s a good thing. I don’t want her in pain.”

“But it also means she won’t be able to appreciate the kind of pain you’re in by being around her and not claiming her. She’ll be uncomfortable and restless and horny, but she won’t have any idea of what you’re going through. Won’t have any idea how hard life’s been for you since you laid eyes on her.”

That was true. Shaya had it in her head that things had been an easy ride for Nick, that he’d found it simple to step aside. It was half the reason why she was so pissed at him. After demolishing the remainder of his breakfast, he said, “Like I told you last night, I don’t want her to come to me because she feels sorry for me.”

“But if she understands that you haven’t, by any means, had an easy time, she might be a little less harsh on you.” Derren took a long swig of his coffee, having finished his pancakes in record time. “And I still think you should tell her everything. The bigger picture would help.”

Smiling, Nick snorted. “What, you’re trying to be my advisor now, too?”

Derren cocked his head. “Do you think I’m smart enough?”

“Fuck you.” There was no heat in his words. “I need to use the bathroom.” Seeing that Derren was about to accompany him—most likely due to the gathering of snarling shifters—Nick threw him an impatient look. “I don’t need you to hold my hand while I take a damn piss.”

Derren chuckled. “Have fun, then.”

Oh it would be fun if one of the shifters confronted him. Blowing off steam would be pretty helpful.

He got his wish. Nick had just finished buttoning his fly when four dominant male wolves entered the restroom. Not intimidated by their scowls or aggressive postures, he ignored them, went to the sink, and washed his hands. As he dried them, they formed a semicircle around him, blocking him in. Turning, he looked at them all curiously…like they were bugs. They didn’t like that.

The one in the middle stepped forward slightly, tilting his bald head. “Who are you?”

“You guys are confronting me. I’ll ask the questions. What do you want?” That seemed to have knocked his confidence a little. Good. Stupid shit was dominant, but he wasn’t an alpha, and yet here he was practically challenging one, endangering himself and his packmates. He should know better. He should have been taught better.

“Our Alpha would like to speak to you.”

“Really?” drawled Nick. “And why is that?”

“You’re on our turf.” He clenched his fists, snarling fiercely. “He wants to know why.”

“Is that right?” Nick ensured he sounded bored. In truth, he was. When he was Alpha, there had been lone wolves who had drifted in and out of town occasionally. Unless they had bothered him in some way, he had left them alone. And if he had needed to speak with them, he hadn’t done this whole song and dance in an effort to intimidate them. There was nothing big and bad about it. In fact, it was plain disrespectful and showed a lack of good leadership.

“So you need to come with us.”

Nick stepped toward him. “If your Alpha wants to speak to me, he’s welcome to come and find me.”

“You really don’t want to play this game. We’re members of the Sequoia Pack. Our Alpha is the Nazi.”

Nick just looked at him blankly. “As I said, if he wants to speak to me, he’s welcome to come find me.”